The Sword Of Salvation
Ch. 5 — Et Cetera (2)
Selena didn't lie when she said she'd come back for dinner. Mariel remembered she had told him to have his food delivered after three hours. The food arrived an hour and a half early. Dinner should not be too late, early is better. So clear was Selena when she entered without permission.
However, Selena's arrival was like never before. This time he was not accompanied by any of the men, only by himself. Selena did not explain why the others were not controlling her, nor did she ask. They enjoyed dinner without much talking. To be more precise, they enjoyed dinner while observing each other.
“By the way, why are you in this inn?” selena asked after finishing their meal. “Aren't you going to Pendragon or Londinia? Have you changed your mind and decided to head to Birmithan?”
Ah, it's been tucked away from Mariel's head that Selena and her men are planning to Birmithan. In fact, he knew that Lukhiel was there from them, but their presence in this inn was still surprising. More precisely, he did not think he would meet them because he felt he would arrive first in the city.
“You alone, how could be here before me?” ask Mariel back. “Aren't you guys traveling by horse carriage? How did you get here so quickly?”
Mariel did not check the parking area of the inn. He entered the inn as soon as he arrived. So, there was no way he would anticipate the presence of Selena and the men. Is it possible that they left the horse carriage and ran over here?
“Clarent has teleportation capability. He teleported us here. We've been here since noon. In a moment we will go and go directly to Birmithan.” Selena paused while swallowing some apple juice. “And you, you still haven't answered my question,” he continued later.
“My destination is Elchester,” said Mariel then dipped in water. “After there,” he continued, “I want to directly explore the Kingdom of Denland. Like I said before, I want to explore the world. Things got hotter between the Neiracian Empire and the Kingdom of Urachna, so I decided to start my adventure from the allies of Camelot.”
“Oh, that's a good idea. I've been to Denland. If you go there, try visiting the Nine Gods Lighthouse. Up to 2800 meters high. You'll be able to see the entire Denland region from the top of the lighthouse.”
“I've heard of it. It is the tallest lighthouse in the world. Some say the Tower of Babel is higher, but there is no evidence that the Nine Gods Lighthouse was decided as the highest. Is the lighthouse accessible to the general public?”
“You have to pay 200 escal to enter, but it's a reasonable price for the scenery you will be able to see.”
“Oh, it's affordable. I'll take myself there. Thanks for the information.”
Selena smiled, then stood up. The holy sword he had placed beside the sofa had returned to his back. “Then we part here,” he said then approached Mariel. “This handle for later.”
Mariel was about to ask what she meant, but the intention instantly faded when suddenly Selena's lips pounced on her lips. Mariel speechless. His body was like being stung by lightning which brought favors.
“Make sure you return it to me when we meet again.”
“...Sure.”
That was all Mariel could mouth out when she saw Selena closing the door while showing off a grin that beat out the bright sun. And unknowingly he had brought his right fingers to his lips.
“This is much more tastier than the dream..”.
Mariel couldn't help her lips not to curl – she was smiling herself like crazy.
Only an hour later he was jolted from his fatamorgan daydream, it was because two servants came to ask permission to bring dirty eating utensils. If it wasn't for their arrival, perhaps he would still be dissolved in a dreamy fantasy cradle for an hour or two.
“...I think women are dangerous,” knot Mariel—and this time it is serious.
However, Mariel did not hate him. Instead, he wants it again. Just remembering the sensation that had been hit was enough to make him opiate. He wants to feel it again and again. Dreams cannot defeat the sensation given reality.
“Truly dangerous,” muttered Mariel while laying down on the soft bed that the inn room provided.
Contrast with the word “hazard” that her mouth spits out, Mariel's lips curled. I can't wait to return Ci—
—Mariel jerks.
The fifteen-year-old recently recalled that he had to help Lukhiel who might be in big trouble. What's more, Selena and her men are already in Birmithan. As powerful as Lukhiel was, there was no way he could overcome the Knights of the Round Table and Selena and her group at the same time. Especially if until King Arthur IV is present, and not to mention Sterminatore who certainly will not be silent.
Mariel was planning to leave tomorrow, but it seemed like the situation was worse than what could be understood. Continuing to leave tomorrow is the same as trying to boil grilled fish. Mariel has to change plans. He has to leave now if he doesn't want Lukhiel to die silly.
Sighing deeply, Mariel pulled her bag and opened the window.
The pale light of the full moon makes the night rather bright. Mariel jumped out of the window with both hands and feet open. It converts prana into wind to wade through the air like a kite. Mariel had only stepped on the ground after being more than a kilometer away from the inn.
The village where the inn was located right in the middle between Londinia and Birmithan. That is, he was already half a journey from reaching the city. At full speed, he could reach Birmithan in an hour—k or so.
“I can only hope it doesn't arrive late.”
...—Birmithan—
...
“In addition to the four members of Sterminatore Level 2, Mr. Langgram has positioned three Red Battalion captains to guard inside the building. The three battalions they led were hiding in the north of the city. With them was Lord Goliathra. So, if we want to take advantage of the situation, we should lure Primordial Demon Lukhiel eastward.”
“Is this just my feeling, or is it too much to defeat the Primordial Devil Lukhiel, Ferguso?”
Ferguso—the 26-year-old man with short black hair and glasses— whom Selena believes to be the brains in their team turned to the owner of the question: Eliza. Eliza is two years younger than Fergus. His long brown hair was wavy and combed back like a fish's tail.
Currently they were sitting around a round table on the roof of one of the luxurious inns in the city. There are only five of them: Eliza, Clarent, Jimmy, Axel, and Ferguso. Their leader, Selena, was absent. The girl was in one of the rooms where she met her uncle: King Arthur IV. As the ongoing operation was led by the king himself, Selena was forced to seek permission if she wanted to get involved.
“Lukhiel is the weakest of the eight Primordial Devils, right?” Axel asked too.
The bald man with the incision scar on the left cheek asked while yawning. She was a year older than Fergus, but the laziest of them all. If it wasn't for knowing that Alex was so loyal, Fergus would have advised Selena to fire Alex.
“Lukhiel weakest, but laden experience.”
The answer was not from Ferguso's mouth, but Jimmy—the youngest member among them.
Jimmy was twenty years old. He's a short blonde guy who doesn't like to talk much. Of all, Ferguso likes Jimmy the most. He can count on it when Ferguso isn't around. However, the problem is that Jimmy is difficult to move without being ordered. Fergus must make sure to give him orders if he wants to use his services to the maximum.
“She's lived more than a millennium,” continued Clarent agreed to Jimmy's remarks.
Clarent is the oldest number three. The short grey-haired woman was only 25 years old three weeks ago. He's the most chatty of all, but he's also the most disciplined. However, considering Clarent was a noble, it was no surprise. Fergusio was very grateful to Clarent.
“But still excessive, right?” ask Eliza again. “King Arthur IV to intervene, you know! Don't you think there's another motive here?”
“If the goal is to capture Lukhiel alive without giving him room to escape, I think all the preparations made are reasonable.” Fergus finally gave his opinion. “Although the weakest, Lukhiel remains strong. There is a reason why Miss Guinerhea was killed. There's a reason why until this second he's still free.”
“That makes sense too, anyway.”
“Continuing my speech earlier,” continued Ferguso returned his colleague's attention to the topic of the problem, “we will lure Lukhiel to escape to the east. However, we have to move before the others move. So, we have to attack him before he enters the mayor's building. This will hinder Mr. Langgram's plan, but Miss Selena won't get into trouble if we manage to decapitate Lukhiel.”
“Clarent,” Ferguso focuses on the owner of the name. “Because you have teleportation, you will be the bait. Alex will attack the inn. We will stand guard in different positions to make him run east. You attacked him as soon as Lukhiel came out. We're not going to catch up with you, so you need to be careful while still making sure to drive him east. Lukhiel will finish you off when he believes you're not being followed, just like he did Miss Guinerhea. And sa—”
“And that's when I have to teleport you there?” cut Clarent with a bored look. “OK, okay. You don't have to explain it to me at length. I'm not Alex.”
“Oi!”
“...I can't deny.”
“Oi!”
“But before that,” timpal Eliza suddenly, “are you sure Your Majesty will allow Miss Selena to do as she pleases?”
The question with an innocent pretentious expression made Ferguso and the others' eyes fixed on Eliza. How not? If King Arthur IV does not allow it, their plan cannot be carried out.
“We leave that to Miss.”
Ferguso could not give another answer.
...—in one of the rooms in inn—
...
“... So, I want Uncle to give me a chance.”
After a long time of pleasantries, Selena finally managed to make her point. This goddamn uncle has made such a long conversation that there's no room for Selena to take over. Every time he tried, the king would cut first. He only managed to cut back when he told him that Marry had managed to defeat two high-class demons.
“I'll make sure I bring Primordial Devil Lukhiel's head before Uncle. If it fails, I don't mind waiting another year and a half.”
Selena looked intently at her uncle: Arthur IV Pendragon.
The 37-year-old, blonde-haired man with an untidy combed ear, looked back at Selena with his green irises. His view was not sharp, not flat either. Arthur's views are normal. However, Selena felt she was being tried by the mature, well-bodied man. But Selena did not turn; her sharp gaze did not fade.
“Good.”
Selena's lips were clenched beyond measure.
“Tapi—”
And the crack instantly disappeared quickly.
“—you must forget your wish and become my daughter's knight if you fail. I promised your mother I wouldn't put you in danger. It's a fair gamble, right?”
The way Arthur IV looked at him seemed to translate clearly what unspoken words were. “You're going to fail, and I don't have to worry about Marry's safety and your mother's babble.” Selena was very sure that was what Arthur didn't say.
“Good, I have no problem with that.”
Not Selena's name if she doesn't dare to accept the challenge. If he fails, he only needs to convince his grandfather to make his uncle make him a part of kesat—
“Don't think of relying on your grandfather. If that's what you do, the sword will be confiscated.”
“...You…! You're overreacting, Uncle!”
“So you changed your mind?”
“Of course not!” Selena stood up from the sofa where she sat with eyes full of determination. “This is a life-and-death gamble. I'll put my life in it.”
“...I don't want to be responsible if your mother is angry.”
Selena grunts. “Of course,” said as he stood up and pulled Caliburn and put him back on his back. “Then I say goodbye, Uncle.”
“Kudo to your victory.”
Arthur's response was a snort of annoyance, but the king smiled with comfort. He even laughed. It was only when the door closed that the laughter stopped.
“Do you not overdo it, Your Majesty?” asked the servant-clothed woman who had been standing behind the king.
“It's okay, Athrecia. His mother did not want him to be part of the Knights of the Round Table. And you know for yourself I've always fulfilled my sister's wishes. More importantly, your preparations are done?”
“Yes. I've set up a battle arena where Guinerhea was killed. I also made sure Celinee had scratched my blood on Lukhiel's skin. I can teleport her there anytime.”
“As usual, Athrecia, you're pretty scary if you're an enemy. But, are you sure you let Celinee live? Maybe someone will restore his memory. If he remembers everything, it will be troublesome.”
“Do you doubt me, Your Majesty? I'm a better witch than Morgan Le Fay and Merlin. Ah, I had to kill Merlin to claim to be better than him. But, the fact that I'm better than Morgan is undeniable.”
“Oh, I forgot that you killed your own mother.”
“He first wants to kill me!”
“I know, I know. No need to be upset that way. Now better massage my shoulder ‒ Your massage is better than my wife.”
“You're a pretty jerk, Your Highness.”
“I don't want to hear that from the woman who teased me first.”
“I can't deny that, but you can reject me if you don't brenggsek.”
“It wasn't that time you tied me up until I couldn't fight?”
“Oh, then how can I end up tied?”
“...Ma-Let's forget about it.”
“Only if you invite me to stay in the palace.”
“You crazy?!”
“You just found out I'm crazy?”
“My wife will beat me up, you know? She doesn't want me to have a concubine, let alone a wife.”
“Who said as a wife or concubine? I'm sure you can change the position of the butler with me.”
“You play with fire, Athrecia.”
“And you like.”
“….”
...—End of Chapter 5—...